The long and speculative history of gay characters on children's TV shows

Created in 1999, SpongeBob has been one of children's TV more controversial figures, with online commentators declaring there to be an "erotic intensity" between SpongeBob and his next-door neighbour Patrick, a pink starfish. In 2005, a video featuring the character designed to promote tolerance and diversity was condemned by Christian group Focus on the Family, which claimed that SpongeBob "advocated homosexuality". However, the show's creator Stephen Hillenburg said in 2002 that SpongeBob is in fact "somewhat asexual".